I have been drumming in south Florida since 1994.I started out in Brooklyn New York. Two doors down from me was a house that had two drummers living there. Carmine and Vinny Appice. Carmine was already with Vanilla Fudge. I had to get a drum set!!!. After begging my folks to get one for 6 months, they gave in. I remember being down Vinny's basement. He was giving me lessons. We were about to trade solos. He went first. He started to kind of bang on his leg with his hand. I thought what the heck is he doing. I was a kid 12 years old. I didn't know what a groove was. Rock, funk whatever. Fast forward to about 8 years ago. A friend of mine may he rest in peace said to me 'Be the Rock'  "oh you think it's that simple "

I said. He said you are a great drummer and I laughed. I said I'm good. Just be the rock. he said. So now I start thinking a little differently and my playing keeps getting better. People say It feels great to play with you. My fills and solos are always improving, but the groove thing has only improved in the last maybe 8 years. What was I thinking? 40 years of playing drums and I start to get 8 or 10 years ago. So all you young guys and old guys like me. Be the rock. I had the pleasure of being back stage with Vinny Appice and Mike Portnoy. Kill Devil Hill and Adrenaline Mob. Vinny says to me"i'm doing a drum battle with Mike later. I though holy cow. Mike stands on his drums. sticks flying spinning, feet  faster  than most peoples hands. They went at it. Vin was the rock. They both were great in their own way. I learned a good lesson that night. If I ever have to do a solo with or in front of Mike Vinny Carmine Neil Pert the list is endless of great drummers.

I will play my best and be that rock. I had the pleasure of subbing for a drummer in the City of Treason band pretty hard stuff. I gave it my best. Last night blues at the back room in Delray Beach, Maybe a show with a famous 50's or 60's artist. Even a temple gig I do all the time. I hit the drums in temple is if they were sitting on pile of dynamite, just a little hard and I might blow up. City of Treason Sticks are breaking in half. But any band I play with I will always lay it down and be the rock. My Favorite drummers range from John Bonham to Will kennedy and everything in between. And of course Vinny and Carmine. Maybe one day I will be my favorite drummer. But that might take another 40 years. I currently have about 30 students and I love them all.

One thing I learned later in life is to listen to all types of music. I know this sounds simple but I am talking about music you might not ever know about. I had a public radio station on one day and I hear an interview with a Cuban piano  player named Roberto Fonseca who was a drummer first, He is so musical with such a great feel. I wish I listened to music like that when I first started playing. I know it would have added more to my style that has developed  and continues to develop. every day. I love to play Afro Cuban beats. I can read them but listening to Roberto's piano playing some how changed  the way I play them. Try something Different Dafnis Prieto uses a Frying pan on his kit. And it's not made by Remo, it's a frying pan. Here is a link Notice the pan. http://youtu.be/PSgroW6P This drummer is amazing. So keep an open mind and rock on.